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Simple Tips to Look Younger than Your Years

Did you know that signs of aging can appear in your skin as early as your 30th birthday? There are factors that you can’t control, like your estrogen levels that naturally decrease as you get closer to menopause. However, there are several ways to slow down the effects of aging. In fact, most of them are so simple that you can do them right away. Here are a few.

Eat More Antioxidants

Everybody knows that a healthy diet does your body good. However, your skin particularly benefits from vitamins B and E, antioxidants that protect the skin from free radicals and environmental toxins. Fish and poultry are excellent sources of vitamins B6 and B12, while sunflower seeds and almonds have 37% and 34%, respectively, of your daily recommended values of vitamin E.

Other foods you should eat more of are fish like salmon and olive oil, which contain omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids that protect that skin’s natural moisture barrier. Kimchi, sauerkraut, and other foods rich in probiotics are also packed with antioxidants. And of course, you should always stay hydrated. One liter of liquid — include tea and coffee in the total — per day is a good measure to start with, but you should definitely drink more water than any other kind of beverage.

Use a Retinoid

No matter how healthily you live your life, your actual age will get in the way and reduce your skin’s ability to produce new cells. With the help of retinoids, vitamin A derivatives that help promote faster skin cell turnover (the production of new, younger skin cells), you can restore some of that youthful glow.

Some retinoids like tretinoin, tazarotene, and adapalene a prescription-level and need a recommendation from a dermatologists. On the other hand, some retinoids like retinol don’t require a prescription. To supplement the restorative properties of retinol, skincare brands like Yeouth add ingredients like vitamin E and hyaluronic acid to their formulations. Whichever you choose, retinoids are powerful, effective allies in fighting skin issues, from acne to premature aging.

Remember to Moisturize

After showering (during which you should have also cleansed your face), apply a moisturizer within three minutes — this way, you’ll get the benefits of the moisturizer and the additional hydration that will be locked in before the water evaporates from your skin. Your anti-aging products will also work to their full effectiveness if you apply them on clean and moisturized skin.

Use Sunscreen

UV rays are notorious for damaging and aging the skin faster than you can say SPF. UV exposure not only darkens the skin, but it also damages elastin and causes collagen loss, resulting in drooping, wrinkly, and skin. This is why you should ditch the notion that sunscreen is only for the beach! One effective product you can try is Innisfree’s Truecare Non-Nano Sunscreen SPF48 PA+++, which contains ingredients of inorganic ultraviolet blocking that physically reflects sun’s light. Remember to extend the application to your neck and ears, and decolletage, if necessary, as these parts are also exposed to the sun but often forgotten when it comes to putting on sunblock.

You should also reduce your sun exposure as much as you can, and remember to apply sunscreen even if you are going to be inside most of the day. If you have to head out or want to spend some time on the beach, double up on the SPF and reapply after heavy sweating or swimming.

Get Some Sleep

Consider sleeping as the final step in your day-to-day skincare regimen. Sleep helps the body regenerate, including the skin. A good night’s rest will also help prevent dark circles from forming under your eyes, another skin aging issue for many. If you want, you can also apply an overnight sleep mask to replenish moisture, since the skin tends to dry out faster at night.

Sleeping on your back also helps prevent the formation of wrinkles on your cheeks and forehead, which are pressed against your pillow when you sleep on your side or your stomach. As an added benefit, sleeping on your back also helps relieve neck and back pain.

De-Stress Your Life

Stress can not only take a toll on your mental health, it can also age you faster. In fact, research suggests that the hormones released by the body when it experiences stress may trigger accelerated biological aging. What’s good is that you don’t have to spend too much or travel to a faraway place to relax (although you can do those if you want!). De-stressing can be as simple as getting more sleep, watching a movie, or catching up with your friends over lunch.

Quit Smoking

Smoking doesn’t just damage your heart and lungs, it also damages your looks. The toxins in cigarettes can age your skin, stain your teeth, and even increase the risk of developing psoriasis. What’s more, the habit of smoking also causes wrinkles around your mouth, due to the repeated facial motions used to puff on the cigarette. This is the same reason why you should also should avoid using straws — the innocent motion will eventually lead to a build up of fine lines.

One more thing to do to keep your youthful looks? Always consult your dermatologist. They will keep you up-to-date with the latest anti-aging technologies, and evaluate your skin health so that they can recommend products and treatments for better results.

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Welcome to ABC at Home! The woman/parenting/homeschooling/entrepreneur resource brought to you by a busy, but efficient mother! I write articles about travel, business, finance and many more subjects for stay-at-home parents (yes, that includes men too) so that our kids can thrive as much as we do.